ITF

PHILIPPE CHATRIER AWARD ITF World Spring 2020 17 PHILIPPE CHATRIER AWARD While a tan and beaming smile are givens, the other seemingly staple component of Manuel Martinez Santana – his humility – is as evident today as his racket control was during his days as a headline act. At the age of 81, he remains a showstopper, while his place in tennis folklore and status as a pioneer for Spanish tennis, whether through his Grand Slam triumphs or Davis Cup exploits, are preserved for future generations to revere. But despite his billing as an icon, figurehead, sporting rock star and a forefather of much that has happened since, the boy from Madrid, who is universally known as Manolo, remains as humble as ever. Having been named a Philippe Chatrier Award winner for 2020 – the highest accolade the ITF bestows upon an individual or organisation – there are few better opportunities to revel in, perhaps embellish, tales from yesteryear. But that is just not Santana's style. When asked to reveal some his proudest moments, Santana responds: "I don't want to bore you", while he did not spend the days following this interview agonising over every word he may or may not have said. Instead, that time was used to send WhatsApp messages and videos, urging caution in the face of the coronavirus outbreak and expressing hope that as many people as possible protect themselves by staying at home. Perhaps his approach stems from his childhood. To set the scene, Santana – the second of four boys – was born in the Spanish capital in 1938 as Spain's bitter civil war raged, while a year later food rationing was imposed upon the besieged population. From here, Santana's origins in tennis are a well-told story, but one which is always worth repeating. Emanating from a modest background, Santana was 10 years old when he started going to Club de Tenis Velazquez and earning a handful of pesetas by picking up balls and cleaning the courts. His love for tennis developed with the help of rudimentary rackets and imaginative court settings. The death of his father, Braulio, meanwhile, prompted the Romero Giron family – members of the prestigious club – to take in and look after the 14-year-old Santana, although he returned every day to eat with his mother, Mercedes. Santana has previously stated "for the first time I started using a knife and fork", while the family contributed financially to his studies, which he neglected in earlier years, and, after showing promise, the advancement of his tennis. His appreciation of the Romero Giron family endures. "I was born into a humble family," Santana tells ITFWorld. "I am so grateful to the Giron family, who saw an excited kid when I was a ball boy and, after watching me play, gave me the opportunity and supported me as I moved forward in the sport. "They did it because of the affection they felt for me, they never thought I would become a tennis player. Tennis was a sport for the privileged but, because of them, I was able to start playing in Madrid at Club de Tenis Velazquez and become the tennis player that I went on to be." The tennis world began to sit up and take notice when Santana won the 1955 Spanish Junior Championship in Barcelona, although his sporting ambition was fuelled by thoughts closer to home. "I realised that if I could be a success, I would be able to help my mother – the heroine of my life – and the rest of the family," added Santana, who began playing international tournaments in 1958. "My mother's sacrifice and unconditional support made me who I am." His breakthrough moment arrived in 1961, just a few days after his 23rd birthday, as he sealed a place among the tennis elite by becoming the first Spaniard to conquer Roland Garros and to win one of tennis's four major tournaments. The latter stages of his victory march at the French Championships were characterised by intense five-set victories over Australia's Rod Laver in the semis and two-time defending champion Nicola Pietrangeli of Italy in the final. It is often said that this moment was the catalyst for the nation of Spain discovering their love for tennis. MANOLO SANTANA In our second interview, the life and times of the legendary Manolo Santana are profiled. By Ross McLean and James Wilkins Left Santana was crowned Wimbledon men's singles champion in 1966 "My mother's sacrifice and unconditional support made me who I am."

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